title: Identification and characterization of GFRalpha-3, a novel Co-receptor belonging to the glial cell line-derived neurotrophic receptor family.
abstract: A new family of neuronal survival factors comprised of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and neurturin has recently been described (Kotzbauer, P. T., Lampe, P. A., Heuckeroth, R. O., Golden, J. P., Creedon, D. J., Johnson, E. M., Jr., and Milbrandt, J. (1997) Nature 384, 467-470). These molecules, which are related to transforming growth factor-beta, are important in embryogenesis and in the survival of distinct neuronal populations. These molecules signal through a novel receptor system that includes the Ret receptor tyrosine kinase, a ligand (i.e. GDNF or neurturin), and an accessory glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol-linked molecule that is responsible for high affinity binding of the ligand. Two accessory molecules denoted GDNF family receptor 1 and 2 (GFRalpha-1 and GFRalpha-2) have been described that function in GDNF and neurturin signaling complexes. We have identified a novel co-receptor belonging to this family based on similarity to GFRalpha-1, which we have named GFRalpha-3. GFRalpha-3 displays 33% amino acid identity with GFRalpha-1 and 36% identity with GFRalpha-2. Despite the similarity of GFRalpha-3 to GFRalpha-1 and GFRalpha-2, it is unable to activate Ret in conjunction with GDNF, suggesting that there are likely additional undiscovered ligands and/or Ret-like receptors to be identified. GFRalpha-3 is anchored to the cell membrane by a phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C-resistant glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol linkage. GFRalpha-3 is highly expressed by embryonic day 11 but is not appreciably expressed in the adult mouse. In situ hybridization analyses demonstrate that GFRalpha-3 is located in dorsal root ganglia and the superior cervical sympathetic ganglion. Comparison of the expression patterns of GFRalpha-3 and Ret suggests that these molecules could form a receptor pair and interact with GDNF family members to play unique roles in development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-0606, USA.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Worby
authors.forename: Q C
authors.initials: QC
authors.lastname: Vega
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Chao
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Seasholtz
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Dixon
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D019556:COS Cells; D002460:Cell Line; D004247:DNA; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D051097:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Receptors; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051096:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; C495039:GDNF protein, human; C494987:GFRA1 protein, human; C494993:GFRA3 protein, human; C495040:Gdnf protein, mouse; C494988:Gfra1 protein, mouse; C494994:Gfra3 protein, mouse; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D051097:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Receptors; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor; D004247:DNA; D051096:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; C416649:Ret protein, Drosophila; C494999:Ret protein, mouse